Driving mechanism for washing machines



May 2, 1933. ENGEL 1,906,253

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed May 6, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2, 1933- E. ENGEL 1,906,253

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed May 6, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTEE :EFWW i WKZW A? TY 5.

Patented May 2, 1933 UNITED STATES EDWARD ENGEL, or BLooMiuGron, ILLINOIS DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES Application filed May 6, 1931. Serial No. 535,537.

This invention: relates to washing machines and more particularly to driving mechanism therefor.

One of theobjects of the invention lies in 5 the provision of a variable stroke driving mechanism for the agitator of a washing machine.

Another object lies ,in the provision of ing the degree of eccentricity of the driven element to accomplish variance in the degree 20 of reciprocation of theagitator.

A further object lies in the provision of a variable stroke driving mechanism for the agitator of awashing machine, said mechanismcomprising a driven member, aneccentricportion disposed thereon inamovable relationship therewith, an eccentric strap connected with saidfeccentric portion and a slidablebar associated with said eccentric in a manner tovary theposition-the'reof with 39 respect to the driving member. e Other objects willappear in'the following specification, taken'in connection with the drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is an elevational view, .partially'in section, of my variable stroke mechanism; Fig. 2 is a cross sectional' view takenfon the line 2'2 of Fig. 1 p r r Fig. 3 is a plan view similar to Fig. 2, 40 showing a modification of my variable stroke 1 mechanism Y I i Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view showing of my variable stroke mechanism" shown in 4 5 Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view showing of the modificationin Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the manner of connecting the eccentric with the driven member shownin' Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the manner of connecting the eccentric'with the driven member shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on the 1ine'88 of Fig. 4. I

Before referring specifically to the drawings, it might be stated that the present invention is directed solely to the driving-mechanism for the agitator of a washing machine, which driving mechanism is of the socalled variable stroke type,in.which control mechanism of a manual nature is utilized to varythe eccentricity of the driving portions toaccomplish a variation in the amount of reciprocation of the agitator. v

Applicants mechanism for accomplishing this variation in the degree of reciprocation complished with a simple driving mechanism requiring but a minimum of parts.- I

In the drawings, in Fig. 2 is shown a washing machine tub 10, of conventional design, within which is disposed a water-agitating element, 11, whichin the present instance is of rather conventional design commonly referred to as the submerged agitator type, f

wherein said element is driven froma position above the normal water level by means of a'vertical drive shaft 12.

The agitator 11 is secured to azlug 13 positioned upon the upper end of the vertical shaft in such manner as to permit removal thereof by simple vertical lift. The shaft 12 issurrounded by a column 14: having a watertight connection with the bottomof the tub l0. i z y -An additional bearingsupport 15'is pro,- vided at a point -adjacent the lower part of the agitator.. 1A .framing and drive housing is shown at 16, the same providing a hear;

ing support 17 for the lower end of the ver- ,tical drive shaft 12. A. pinion 18 is secured at 19 to the lower endof the vertical shaft. I

Means for reciprocating the shaft 12 is provided,.as shown in several figures ofthe drawings, by means of a segment gear 20 pivoted at;21 in .thedrive housing. Means for reciprocatingthe segment 20 is provided in a connecting rod 22 pivotally connected to the segment 20 as at 23. V This connectingrod 22 is integrally 'formed with or connected at V of the agitator is, in the present instance, ace

its opposite end with a strap 24 which in turn encircles a movable eccentric 25. The latter is connected, as will be described later considerably more in detail, with a driven worm gear 26 which is suitablysupported and carried in a bearing relationship in the housing portion 27.

Means for driving the driven worm gear is provided in a conventional worm 28, which in turn is driven from any conventional power means normally utilizedas a motive power for washingmachines means may be either an electric motor or a small gasoline engine, as the casemaybe.

The movement of the worm 28 is transmitted directly to the driven gear 26, thence to the movable eccentric 25. This eccentric is capable of a degree of adjustment, which accomplishes a variance in the degree of movement of the rod 22, which in turn is transmitted directly through the segment gear 20 to the pinion '18 and finally to the vertical shaft 12. It is obvious thatvariation in the movementof the eccentric 25 directly varies the degree of stroke or rather the amount of oscillation of the agitator 11.

Now, with respectto the means for varying the movement, or rather, the eccentricity of the member 25 in the present instance, as shown in Figs. 2 and- 4, applicant has provided an eccentric 25 which is secured and carried upon the driven gear 26 by means of a dual slotted, arrangement shown in said Figures 2'and 4., In. this instance, as will be seen in Fig. 8, the driven gear 26 is slot:

ted as at 29 to receive dual guide members 30, which in turn project into'guides 31 fashioned upon the lower side of the eccentric 25. It is apparent that the eccentric 25 is capable of a sliding relationship by virtue of the before described mechanism upon the driven gear 26 rotated by the worm 28.

Referring to Figs. 3, 5 a nd 7, in this instance it is seen that'the manner of positioning the eccentric 25 uponthe driven gear 26 is somewhat difierent, namely, that a circular plug 32 has its upper and circular portion carried in'a receivingportion 33 of the eccentric 25.

The lower end of the plug 32 is flattened, as shown at 34, the same being adapted to be received in a sliding. relationship in the receiving slot 35 formed upon'the upper surface of the driven gear 26. Such a connection between the eccentric and the driven gear is obviously in principle somewhat the same as the before mentioned connection and actually operates in exactly the same manned to change the position of the eccentric upon the driven gear. At this time it might be stated that whenever the eccentric is .positioned concentrically with the driven gear 26, and when rotated therewith, no move- V ment will be transmittedtothe eccentric strap 24, and therefore there will be no movement driven gear.

of the agitator. However, when by virtue of a lateral movement of the eccentric 25, whether connected to the driven gear in either of the ways described, there will be transmitted to the eccentric strap 24 a certain movement which will be increased in direct proportion to the degree of movement of the eccentric 25 laterally with respect to the The movement of the eccentric laterally with respect to the driven gear is accomplished hy the following mechanism. The

eccentric 25 is apertured as at 36 in a reci tangular manner as shown in the figures and on one side of said rectangularly shaped aperture there is provided a diagonally toothed rack 37 1 In Fig. 1 a vertically positioned bar 38 is arranged toproject not only through the driven gear 26, but also the eccentric 25. The rack upon one face thereof has the diagonal tooth portions 39, which mesh as shown, particularly in Figs. 4 and 5,with the teeth upon the rack 37. The bar in the present instance is rectangular in form, as shown at 40, and provides not only an operative connection with therack but also a means for additionally supporting the eccentric in a secure position with respect to the driven gear. p 7

Movement of the rack 38 in either an upward or downward direction is accomplished through a driving connection between a driven pinion 41 and a rack bar formation '42 upon the lower end of the bar 38. Obviously, any manual control means for operating the driving gear pinion 41 might be used, it being quite obvious that movement of said pinion gear in one direction 'rais'es'the bar 38, while movement in the other direction lowers the bar. Further, it is quite apparent that upward and downward movement of the bar 38 operates to move the eccentric 25 in a lateral direction by virtue of I the meshing of the teeth on the respective parts.

Theoperation of myvariable stroke mechanism is as follows: It isquite obvious that driving mechanism originating in an electric'motor or gasoline engine is transmitted necting rod 22 and eccentric strap 24. 7 How- 7 ever, movement of the eccentric 25, which is capable .of lateral movement with respect to the gear 26, actually changesthe degree of movement and therefore the variation in the stroke of the agitator. 4

'As stated before, if the eccentric 25 is maintained in a concentric position with respect to the driven gear 26, no movement will be imparted to the connecting rod 22. However, when the bar 38 is moved manually to such position that the eccentric 25 is moved to an oiT-center position with respect to the driven gear, then motion is immediately transmitted to the connecting rod 22 and fin ally to the agitator. As the eccentric 25 is moved to a further ofiset position, a greater degree of movement is obviously transmitted to the agitator.

In the present instance, applicant has shown two modifications disclosing two ways in which the eccentric 25 may be either attached to or associated with the driven gear 26. However, it is quite apparent that in each instance the principle of operation is exactly the same and the difference lies merely inthe mechanical means which accomplishes the connection between these two parts.

What I claim is:

1. Driving mechanism of the character described including means comprising a driven gear, an eccentric slidably mounted thereon in a manner to permit lateral movement with respect thereto, an eccentric strap about said eccentric, driving means connecting said strap with the agitator, and mechanism for varying the position of the eccentric with respect to the driven gear including a rack disposed on said eccentric and a manually movable slide bar operatively connected with said rack for moving the eccentric to various positions of adjustment.

2. Driving mechanism of the character described including means comprising a driven gear having a slide therein, an eccentric mounted on said gear, said eccentric having a lug depending into the receiving slot on said driven gear to provide a sliding relationship therewith, an eccentric strap, a driving connection between said strap and the agitator, a rack disposed interiorly on said eccentric, a Vertically disposed rack bar operatively connected with said rack and manual control means for moving said rack bar to in turn accomplish a variation of adjustment of the eccentric with respect to the driven gear.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

EDWARD ENGEL. 

